Re: need advice on purchasing used microscopes

On Jul 8, 8:08 pm, Meri <merit...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I am the volunteer coordinator for phytoplankton monitors. We
recently got a small sum of money (not much 1K) to purchase scopes for
volunteers.

We use them to identify diatoms and dinoflagellates in coastal waters.
I would like them to have a compound scope, with 10, 20, 40, and 10x
ocular; ideally, a mechanical stage.

Does anyone have any advice?

I'd urge you to take a look at Spectra Services
(www.spectraservices.com) and Martin Microscopes
(www.martinmicroscopes.com). They might have the price and the used
product you need. Of course take a good look around. Be a bit
suspicious of E-Bay vendors. Probably you'll find an Olympus CH or a
Nikon Alphaphot for sale, these are good instruments, well built with
great optics.

There are only 4 major quality makers, Olympus, Nikon, Zeiss and
Leica. The last two are German and better known for their high end
microscopes.

Thanks,

Kevin Cunningham
SMS
.